Chapter Eight

When we arrive at the unit, it's almost twelve o'clock. We didn't want to be away from the kids for too long, so we waited until visiting hours were over before heading to the office. Eugene needed to sign some important documents so he wouldn't have to go to work the next day. Finally, the twins will be released tomorrow.

"You should get some rest, Eugene," I said as I tapped him on the back. "I'll just prepare everything we need to bring tomorrow and then go to bed," I said as I approached the twins' bedroom door.

Because we were unaware that they were twins, the clothes I brought to the hospital were insufficient. Everything was only meant for one person. It's a good thing that the clothes I ordered last night arrived today so the twins can wear a matchy outfit tomorrow. 

"Let me do it, I know you're tired." he offered worriedly, I just shook my head trying to fight the drowsiness.

I pushed his arms away when he began shaking my shoulders and gently pushing me into the room.

"But I want to help you; please let me help you!" he said again, shaking my shoulder like a child. I smack his arm and glare at him angrily.

"Are you saying something?" I ask sternly, but he just pouts in front of me.

"Please allow me to help—" I pick up the baby powder and act like I will throw it to him. 

"Hey, that'll hurt! Fine, fine, I'll leave already!" he screamed nervously, but I didn't take my evil gaze away from him, so he had no choice but to leave the room and go to his room.

"Hays... Still acting like a child," I shrugged my shoulders as he exited the room.

I know I won't be able to sleep tonight, even though I'm tired and sleepy. I have a lot of thoughts running through my mind, and i'm quite anxious about tomorrow. I'm excited to meet the twins and bring them home, however I'm still worried about whether I'll be able to properly care for them.

Can I truly fulfill the role of Mother to them? What if I fail? What if they become ill as a result of my failure to properly care for them? I've never taken care of a baby before; I can't even breastfeed them,I'm afraid they'll go hungry, and I know formula isn't enough for the baby, so I'm scared.

"Argh! Laura! calm down, you need to calm down if you don't want to make mistakes," I said to myself, throwing myself on the bed and closing my eyes.

"I can do it. For Eugene... for Thor and Loki," I say quietly to myself, trying to gather some courage.

I grew up without parents. I don't have anyone by my side, and I don't have a mother I can call whenever I'm hungry... I don't have a father who will stand up to bullies. I know how difficult it is to grow up without parents who can guide and protect you. So I'm here to play this role for the twins because it hurts just thinking about them growing up without a mother. 

It's not that I don't have faith in Eugene; I know he's capable of caring for the children. I just know he still needs help raising his sons. I know he can love them unconditionally, but Eugene is still human, and he recently lost the woman he loves, so he, too, needs someone to hold onto.

"Hypocrite" I whispered to myself.

I gave many reasons, but in my heart, I knew why I was doing this.

Eugene has become a special person in my life, and even though I'm not sure if I'm ready to be a mother, I'll do everything I can. Whatever happens, I will remain by their side and play the part of being their mom.

——————

"Now you're going to take the twins home right?" .I nodded to Anica who was hugging her baby girl, I reached for Denice's fat cheek and squeezed it, cute.

"What time?" he asked again, I leaned back in my chair after sipping coffee from the cup.

"Are you taking the twins home now?" she asked, and I nodded to Anica, who was hugging her baby girl, and squeezed Denice's fat cheek, her baby is really cute.

"What time?" she asks again as I lean back in my chair and sip from my cup of coffee.

"This afternoon, Eugene still has meetings, and I still have some outdoor appointment," I noticed her brow furrowed; I wanted to know why, she simply shook her head.

"You two are so busy; Eugene is the company's president, and you are Eugene's secretary...that is, if Eugene is busy, you are busy as well."

"That's what it is. Why is there a problem with that?"

I need to be with him to prepare his things because I'm his secretary.

"What about the kids? If you're busy, what about the twins? You're busy, Eugene's busy... who will look after the twins? Will you hire a nanny?" she asked, trying to pull me back to reality.

"I — I hadn't considered that... "

Eugene and I work practically identical schedules, so if he's busy, I'm busy as well. In this situation, how can we look for the twins?

"You should resign from your position."

"No," I replied quickly. 

Anica was so surprised by my abrupt refusal, I bowed my head, feeling a little guilty.

"You don't want to quit or you don't like the idea of him having a new secretary? Besides, everyone who becomes Eugene's secretary has always been linked to him," she shrugged and looked at me.

"That's not the case."

"Don't hide it from me, Laura. You're my friend, I know you. You love him right?" my cheek quickly warmed up as I slowly nodded my head.

"I'm terrible. Am I becoming possessive?" I worriedly questioned her, and she openly laughed at my face.

"You can do both or hire a Nanny to help you balance your time."

"But I don't want them to grow up in other people cares."

"It's not like that...they're just there to look after them while you're working," she explained, I nodded, trying to figure out what she meant.

"Hey, why did you quit your job when you had a child?" I ask, my gaze fixed on Denice, who was already fast asleep in her arms.

"I chose to be a full-time mom and wife," Anica replied, smiling as she gazed at her sleeping baby.

My chest twitched as I heard the word Wife. I gave her a faint smile.

It's difficult for me to leave my job because it's the only connection Eugene and I have. We're best friends, but being his secretary makes me feel like I'm his wife; I can look after him at any time.

"Here they are!" exclaimed the man who had just entered the shop.

When we turned around, I noticed Eugene and Anica's husband.

"Are you finished?" he asks, and I stand up.

"Hi Anica, it's good to see you again; is this Denice?" he asked, smiling as he stroked the child's head. "She's getting bigger everytime I see her."

"Are you going to fetch the twins now?" Anica asked with a smile and handed the child to her husband who couldn't stop talking to Eugene about work. 

Anica's husband Deon is Eugene's close friend who works for him... I I had known that they are friends I didn't agree to work for him because I know it's impossible that he will fire Deon because he's part of the board directors. 

"We'll go ahead now," Eugene said as he bid them goodbye.

"We'd like to accompany you to see the twins, but Denice has her vaccine schedule right now," Anica explained.

"It's okay, text me when you get home. Bye bye, thank you for your time," I said sweetly before hugging her.

"Anytime," she said with a wink, I laughed and shook my head before dragging Eugene away from the coffee shop. 

——————

"Is it really okay that you didn't attend the meeting with Mr.Min today? That's important, he's one of our VIPs, right?" I asked as I buckled my seatbelt.

He still have a meeting left but he left. 

"I asked told him my reason and he agreed. He's our VIP but he's also my Ninong, so it's fine," he replied arrogantly before starting the vehicle.

"You're so proud huh," I commented, staring at him.

"Psh, you're teasing me again. Anyway how's your bonding with Anica?" he ask while driving.  

"It's okay, we just talked," I said quickly as I looked out the window.

"Oh, that's good," he said as I turned my face into the driver's seat.

"You're not going to ask what we talked about?"

"No, I think it's private," he frowned.

"Gosh, why did you think that was a private conversation? I know you, it's difficult to ask what we talked about, aren't you gossiper? Don't be pretentious," I irritatedly told him.

"Hahaha tsk. I really don't have anything to hide from you, but will you tell me if I ask?" he said, looking straight ahead at the road. I could stare at his face in this situation. 

"What if I resign? —Ah! Oh gosh Eugene, that's too dangerous!" I exclaimed, still catching my breath.

He slammed on the brakes and yanked the car to the side without even looking back or looking side by side to see if he was going to hit anything.

"Eugene?" I called  him, his jaw tightening. I was taken aback when I noticed his hand turning white as a result of his tight grip on the steering wheel.

"Hey, Uge... What's the matter?" I asked, taking away his hand on the steering wheel.

"You're leaving? Why are you resigning?" he asked, his face looks so gloomy and his voice sound so raspy.

"No, I just asks—"

"You wouldn't ask if you weren't going to do it."

"What are you saying? I was just curious."

"So you thought of leaving? You thought of leaving me?... us," he said with a stern face and suppressed with anger.

I gasped and  touch his face so he look at me. When our gazes met, I noticed that his eyes were already starting to turn red, and I was shock when I saw that he almost cried because of what I said. 

"It's not like that. I just thought, you as a Boss, me as your secretary... we're both busy with work. If we're both busy with work, what about the twins? So I asked what if I quit as your secretary, for the twins? and be a full-time mom instead, so that I can take care of the three of you well."

Perhaps he would have cried on his own if I hadn't explained it to him.

"Oh..." was his only response as he hurriedly resumed driving.

As the car started moving again, I noticed his sly grin.

"S— stop staring at me, Laura," he said timidly. I took another look at his face and noticed his reddish ear.

"I told you I wouldn't leave you and the babies... tsk" I closed my eyes, trying not to laugh when I saw her bright red face. "You're blushing, Eugene."

"I'm not!" he said shyly.

I can't stop laughing at his reaction.